Calcium reactor and minor/trace elements

[Arisbel]

Hello I need help with my Red Sea color program dosing. I run a calcium reactor at 1ml. I have 2 chambers and both have ReBorn media and 10% of ReMag media. nothing else. I dose a Acropower 2ml daily and Red Sea AB+ every day at 1ml. I don’t know how to dose the Red Sea color program accurately at all since their dosing measurements are based on the major elements program they have. Is there any way (other than an ICP because they take forever to get to me where I’m from) to know what I should dose?

Here is why I dose.

•ChaetoGro by Brightwell — every 5 days at 1ml

•colors program Potassium — every 3 days at 1ml

•colors program Bioactive elements D — everyday at 1ml

•colors program iodine+ — every 5 days at 2ml

•colors program iron+ — every 9 days 1ml

•acropower — 2ml everyday

• coral nutrition AB+ — everyday 1ml



My calcium is at 456
Alkalinity is at 9.5
Magnesium is at 1376

I do not do many water changes because i have a system that handles nutrient export very well. I run a refugium, an algae scrubber (for fine tuning exporting although i suck at that too since I can’t seem to measure nitrates as accurately as I wish I can) a filter roller, an aero aqua duo, ozone generator, metal absorbers, and a nyos torq for carbon.

Is there someone out there with a similar setup that can help me get these doses right?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You are dosing potassium, but not measuring to see if you need any, or how much you might need? Maybe the dose is unnecessary, and maybe it is way too small.

 

[Arisbel]

You are dosing potassium, but not measuring to see if you need any, or how much you might need? Maybe the dose is unnecessary, and maybe it is way too small.

I did an ICP test once 4 weeks ago. It said my iodine and potassium were thru the roof so I reduced it a lot. I haven’t tested ever since. I will now, thanks.

 

[JAMSOURY]

Icp test is the best way to know. Ive been running a calcium reactor with reborn for about a year now, all trace elements are within range besides iodine in which I dose very little of it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I did an ICP test once 4 weeks ago. It said my iodine and potassium were thru the roof so I reduced it a lot. I haven’t tested ever since. I will now, thanks.

Since there is no obvious reason for potassium to decline in a reef tank (and it doesn't always), I wouldn't add any unless there was an apparent measured need.

IMO, potassium declines if there is less potassium in the foods fed, per unit of N and P present, than in the tissues of organisms that are taking up that same N and P. Thus, potassium balance may depend on the foods fed.